Unit electric heater



July 14, 1953 P. PETERsEN Erm. 2,645,704

UNIT ELECTRIC HEATER Filed Jan. 9,1952 z-sheets-sneet 1 .ff i-3 f4.3.

ATTDRNEYS 19a on Jkr'u'c INVENToRs.

July 14, 1953 P. PETERsEN E-r/u.A 2,645,704

UNIT ELECTRIC HEATER Filed Jan. 9, 1952 2 Sheets-,Sheet 2 Paal peersen f galon vf/Yaf/MJNVENTOM.

ATTD RN EYB Patented July 14, 1953l UNITED sTATss` egTENT OFFICE UNIT ELECTRIC HEATER Paul Petersen and Anton J. Markuc, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application January 9, 1952, Serial N o. 265,582

. tively small heating elements are combined with ns so that the device functions as a furnace or similar heating unit.

Various types of electric heaters have been provided, however, heaters of this type have been used as auxiliary elements and because ofthe comparatively high cost of operation the electric heaters are not used as means for supplying basic heat for a residence, or other type of buildings. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a method of combining a plurality of spacedns with heating elements whereby the Y surface area of a body in which heating elements are installed is increased to such an extent that the'device may be economically used as a furnace or the like.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for incorporating electric heating elements in a body having spaced fins extended therefrom whereby the ns increase the surface area so that the device operates efciently as a heater.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric heater in combination with a blower and lter whereby it is possible to provide a highly efficient electric furnace in a comparatively small housing.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electric heater adapted to be used as a furnace which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies alternately spaced comparatively thin plates with some of the plates having extended ends and wherein the plates are arranged in groups with electric heating elements positioned between the groups.

Other features and advantages of the invention Will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view illustrating the improved electric furnace.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the furnace. y

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the furnace taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an elevational View on an enlarged 5 claims. (o1. 21e- 19) scale showing the heating element of the furnace with parts broken away and shown in section.

Figure 5 is an end elevational View of the unit shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail illustrating one of the electric heating units incorporated in the heating element.

Figure 7 is a detail illustrating one of the plates.

forming the fins.

Figure 8 is a detail showing one of the spacers:r

used between the plates.

Figure 9 is a view illustrating a wiring diagram:`

adapted to be used with `the furnace.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding partsv the improved electric heater of this invention in cludes heating elements I0, plates II, spacers I2 bolts I3 and I4 for retaining the plates, spacers.; and heating elements in assembled relation, a;

blower I5 actuated by a motor I6, a housing having a base I'I, a front wall I8, a rear wall I9, a top 20, end wall 2 I and a partition 22 having an open-- ing 23 therein, and a filter 24 mounted on the partition 22 and positioned over the opening 23.

The heating unit as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, may be used in different types of housings, such as in a furnace as a primary heater for a cottage or residence, or in a casing adapted to be used as a .wall radiator for heating rooms, apartments and the like or as a space heater for trailers or similar vehicles.

As shown in the drawings the unit is formed with groups of plates as indicated by the numeral II, with the plates separated by spacers I2 and the parts are assembled with the heating elements I0 which, as illustrated in Figure 4. are positioned between two of the spacers I2 and these are located between the groups of plates.

The plates I I are provided with openings 25 and 26 through which the bolts I3 and I4 extend and similar openings 26 and 2l are provided in the spacers I2. The bolts pass through the openings in the plates and spacers and also extend through similar openings in bars 28 and 29 at the ends of the units. The nuts 30 and 3| on the ends of the bolts I3 and 32 and 33 on the ends of the bolts III provide means for positively clamping the elements in assembled relation. It is preferable to clamp the elements together with considerable force as the heating elements which are of the copper clad type have a tendency to burn out where they are not under pressure.

The heating elements are provided with extended tongues 34 and 35 which are connected to contact bars 36 and 31, respectively and the 3 contact bars extend to a switch box 38 in which switches 39 and 40 are positioned. The switch boX is provided with an electric cord 4l having a plug ll.' on the end thereof with which the unit may be plugged into a wall socket or the like.

The motor I6 is mounted on the base l1 of the housing through a support 43 and the fan I5 which is carried by the motor shaft is positioned to register' with an opening 44 in a front Wall I8 of the housing and in which a screen 45 is positioned.

The front wall of the housing is provided with an opening 46 over which a grill 41 is mounted and the air drawn inwardly by the fan l5 passes upwardly through the filter 24 in the opening 23 of the partition 22 and after circulating around the heating element, it is discharged through the opening 46.

The filter 24 is mounted in a frame 48 and the frame is secured to the partition 22 with bolts 49.

The contact bar 37 is connected to a source of current supply through the switch box 38 by a wire 5U and the bar 46 is connected to the opposite terminal of the source of supply through wires 5I and 52. The circuit of the blower motor IG is connected to the wires 50 and 52 with wires 53 and 54, the switch 4) being positioned in the wire 54.

In the design shown, the heating element is supported above the filter 24 on the partition 22 with brackets 55, and it will be understood that the element may be supported by other suitable means.

With the parts formed in this manner air circulated around the heating element comes in contact with the extended ends of the plates ll and with the plates heated by the heating elements l) the temperature of the air is raised as desired The heating elements may be formed of as many groups of plates as may be desired and the plates may be formed of Various sizes.

Although it is preferred to form the plates and spacers of aluminum it will be understood that other suitable material or materials may be used.

It will also be understood that other modiications may be used in the design and arrangement 4l of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Wha-t is claimed is:

l. A portable electric heater comprising a group of plates of equal area, spacers of lesser area than said plates positioned between the plates of the group, and an electric heating element at one end of each of the group of plates and separated from said plate by a spacer, said plates having ends extended beyond the spacers and heating element.

2. A portable electric heater comprising groups of plates of equal area, spacers of lesser area than said plates positioned between the plates of the groups, hat heating elements positioned between each of groups of plates and separated from each group of plates by a spacer, said plates having ends extended beyond the spacers and heating elements, and means clamping the plates, spacers and heating elements in assembled relation.

3. A portable electric heater as described in claim 2 wherein the clamping means comprises bolts with nuts on the ends extended through the plates, spacers, and heating elements.

4. A portable electric heater' as in claim l wherein means is provided for clamping the plates, spacers and heating elements in assembled relation.

5. A portable electric heater as in claim 4 wherein the clamping means comprises bolts with nuts on the ends extended through the plates, spacers and heating elements.

PAUL PETERSEN. ANTON J. MARKUC.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 704,448 Eastwood July 8, 1902 1,358,059 Clutts Nov. 9, 1920 1,431,231 Homan Oct. l0, 1922 1,534,571 Conning Apr. 21, 1925 1,957,558 Siers May 8, 1934 2,221,703 Falco NOV. 12, 1940 2,415,621 Arnhym Feb. 1l, 1947 2,480,363 Hamer Aug. 30, 1949 

